Somali & Somali-American Communities United in Outrage: Reject Trump's 'Garbage' Remarks Against Immigrants & Ilhan Omar

Global Outcry: Somali Communities Reject Trump's 'Garbage' Remarks

A firestorm of condemnation has erupted from Somali and Somali-American communities globally, following former US President Donald Trump’s recent derogatory remarks. Trump labeled members of the Somali diaspora as “garbage” and hurled insults at Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a former child refugee from Somalia, prompting widespread accusations of racism and xenophobia.

During what was reportedly his final cabinet meeting of the year, Trump launched into a tirade, stating, “We’re going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. Her friends are garbage.” He further added, “When they come from hell and they complain and do nothing but b****, we don’t want them in our country.”

A Community Under Attack

Minnesota state Senator Omar Fateh, a proud Somali-American who previously ran for Minneapolis mayor, sharply criticized Trump's comments as “hurtful” and “disgraceful.” Fateh highlighted the profound inaccuracy of Trump's claims, emphasizing the immense contributions of the Somali community. “It is a community that has been resilient, that has produced so much. We are teachers and doctors and lawyers and even politicians taking part in every part of Minnesota’s economy and the nation’s economy,” he stated.

Fateh suggested Trump's rhetoric was a calculated act of “political theatre” aimed at mobilizing his base for upcoming mid-term elections, warning of potential spikes in political violence. He recalled recent incidents, including an assassination of a Democratic state legislator in Minnesota and the vandalization of his own campaign office, underscoring the climate of fear gripping the community. “Right now our community is afraid,” Fateh explained, urging neighbors to stand in solidarity against what he described as a “hostile federal government.”

Khadijo Warsame, a Minneapolis cafe owner, echoed these sentiments, describing a palpable fear that has led to a deserted business district. “Every business is closed, and it has been like this for the last three days,” she lamented, expressing concerns for her small business's survival.

Escalating Rhetoric and Broader Condemnation

Trump’s intensified anti-immigrant stance comes in the wake of a deadly shooting in Washington D.C., for which an Afghan evacuee has been charged. While Trump has a history of attacking Congresswoman Omar and the Somali community, his recent comments during the cabinet meeting were particularly harsh. He asserted, “They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country... These are people that do nothing but complain.”

Congresswoman Omar, responding to the remarks, acknowledged that Trump’s xenophobic and Islamophobic comments were not new, but expressed surprise at his “creepy” obsession with her and the Somali community.

Beyond US borders, the outrage resonated deeply in Somalia. Residents of Mogadishu, furious at Trump’s description of their East African nation as “hell” and asserting that “it stinks,” demanded a response from their government. “This is intolerable,” declared Mogadishu resident Abdisalan Ahmed. “Trump insults Somalis several times every day, calling us garbage and other derogatory names we can no longer tolerate.”

In Washington, several prominent Democratic congressmembers jointly condemned Trump's remarks as “xenophobic and unacceptable.” Their statement highlighted that Trump, instead of unifying the nation, chose to attack a law-abiding American immigrant community that has made significant positive contributions to the United States.